Cycle Tuscany – Day 1
Bologna to Badi
Distance
Total Ascent
Highest Point
Overview
Gallery | Individual days | Video | Map
Like most old Italian cities, the day begins cycling through the tiny back-streets, where you can see the everyday business going on as usual. Bologna however is particularly charming with beautiful streets and arcades.
The Italian architecture is always fascinating, and the piazzas, arches and marble flooring is stunning. The Italians always seem to do everything with great style.
Bologna is one of the oldest cities in Italy, and is known for its beauty, wealth and cuisine. It also has a famous university, which is one of Europe’s oldest, and is of great importance to the country.
Because of the hi-tech industry in the city, the hotels and restaurants remain expensive, so book your accommodation early, and you should be selective where you eat. There are still plenty of quality places to stay and eat, but you have to look for them.
Like most cities in Europe the city wall notes a change in scenery, and instead of sprawling suburbs you are quickly into the countryside.
There were some ash and stone routes near to the Fiume Reno, but all were easily manageable. If you are not on a mountain bike it is best to get onto the road at Sibano, but before you do, check out the little restaurant by the side of the road called Bar One, the pizzas are fantastic and very cheap.
Just a short time later you can get back onto the lanes at Pioppe. Then you go through some stunning countryside, through Vergato and many other villages, before you get to a major dilemma, and something I had never come across before.
Just after Carbona train station you have to make a choice. The road ahead disappears because of a landslide, and you have 3 options:-
1. Brave the main road, which takes you through a tunnel, and in my opinion would be very dangerous.
2. Get on a train for one stop from Carbona to Riola.
3. By far my favourite option for fun and adventure is to carry on, and when the road disappears you walk and carry the bike across the landslide to the other side. You should look at the video.
Then the climbing begins, turning south at Riola, through Ponte, the road climbs steadily, and then somewhat steeper at Suviana heading for Lago di Suviana.
The lake is stunning with forest all around. There are very few places to stay or camp, and I think we stayed in the best possible bed and breakfast in the area to view the lake at its finest. Bed & Breakfast Borgo Massovrana.
There are not many restaurants in the area either, so we took advantage of the offer of home-made cooking.
This is one of the best places I have ever stayed. Great accommodation, fantastic views, and wonderful, friendly owners who could not have done more for us.
